Improvement in policemen s torches



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

WILLIAM H. CLARK, JOHN W. RICHARDSON, AND JOHN FOLLER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA..

IMPROVEMENT IN POLICEMENS TORCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 160,393, dated March 2, 1875; application filed January 2, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. CLARK, J OHN W. RICHARDSON, and JOHN FOLLER, of Washington, in the county of Washington and District of Columbia, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Policcmens Torches; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of a plan View of our improved torch. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional, and Fig. 3 a detail, view of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 5 is a plan view, and Fig. 6 a sectional detail view, of the same and Fig. 7 is a detail view.

This inventlon has relation to policemens batons or clubs, and is an improvement on the patent granted to Clark and Richardson, dated January 13, 1874, No. 146,431; and it consistsin the employment of a baton or billet provided with a cylindrical recess in its upper end for the reception of a candle forced outward by a spring, and surrounded and supported near its upper end by a metallic tube or ring having a central ring of plaster-ofparis, or other suitable non-conducting material, to prevent melting of the candle, in connection with an igniter-ring provided with a pivoted handle and a cap or cover.

In the annexed drawings, A designates a tube, which may be of wood or metal, and which is of a convenient length to be carried in the pocket. This tube is covered with a braid, and provided on one end with a metal cap, B, having a screw-thread both outside and inside of it. (ldesignatesascrew-threaded ring having a milled edge, and a hole through its center. This ring has an annular elevation formed on it, from which small tubes or sockets to rise, which are designed for receiving and holding short matches, as shown in Fig. 4. Inside of the ring 0 we apply plasterof-paris, or other suitable material, which is a poor conductor of heat, and between the ring 0 and the end of the tube a packing-ring, b,

may be applied. The tube A is designed to contain a candle, D, and also a helical spring, E, which latter keeps the end of the candle up against the plaster-of-paris in the ring 0, so that the wick of the candle will be exposed through the hole through this ring.

Instead of a candle a lamp may be used, in which case the tube A will be constructed of metal, or lined with metal, and used as the oil-reservoir of the lamp.

G designates a ring, which is free to turn around the raised portion of the ring G, and which is constructed with spurs g, which are suitably serrated and bent over, so that they will strike the tips of the matches in the sockets a when the ring G is rotated. For the purpose of conveniently turning the ring Gr when it is desired to strike a light, a handle, 0, is pivoted to this ring and curved, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when it is adjusted, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3, a cover, J, may be screwed on the cap B, thus closing the end of the torch, and protecting the matches and the wick from injury.

One end of the tube A may be utilized for containing extra matches, in which case a cap, d, will be used for retaining the matches in their receptacle.

For the purpose of conveniently carrying the torch, and preventing it from being taken away from a person in the event of his being assaulted, we securely attach a wrist-strap, P, to one end of the torch-tube, which strap is intended to be passed on the wrist or arm.

We attach a metal ball, N, to one end of the tube A. This is done by means of a helical spring, 0, of suitable length, which is suitably secured into the ball N, and its other end inserted into the smallest end of the tube A. The spring 0 is inclosed in an india-rubber tube,s, which is securely fastened to the spring 0 and to the tube A, and then covered with braid.

We thus have an instrument of defense known as a billy, on one end of which is a torch, which instrument will be very usefulin searches for burglars.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a billet, the combination of the re cessed candle tube or holder A, helical spring E, and ring or cap (J, substantially as specified.

2. In a billet, the combination, with the aforesaid tube A, spring E, and ring 0, of the match-holders a and igniter G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The handle 0, pivoted to the igniter-ring G, in combination with a torch, substantially as described.

4c. The tube A, provided with a cylindrical recess at its upper end, and helical spring E,

in combination with the screw-threaded cap 

